Monday after Epiphany
A friend of mine and her husband have been going through a difficult time the last few months. She was diagnosed with cancer and has undergone major surgery and months of chemotherapy. Many people have been praying for them and will continue to do so. My friend has good days and rough days. Sometimes she becomes very fatigued suddenly and their activities are arranged so they can get home quickly in case she needs to rest. Her husband takes to her chemotherapy, and appointments and Mass and has even tried his hand at cooking. Their relationship and devotion to one another touches me. What they have been through these last months and how they have lived it reminds me that, on this way to Jesus, we do not bring only ourselves—we bring one another.
Today’s Gospel reading from chapter 4 of Matthew evokes an image that is utterly tender. Verse 24 says, “and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases and racked with pain, those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics, and he cured them.” This passage does not say “all who were sick came to him” rather the sick were “brought” to Jesus. Word had spread throughout Syria about the teaching and healing ministries of Jesus and great crowds gathered where Jesus went. I imagine people came together. I imagine these crowds of people were families, neighbors, friends, worship communities, and work mates. I can imagine the conversations between people—one trying to persuade a loved one to go to this famed “healer” to try one last time for relief of some ailment. The truth is when my “neighbor” is suffering or ailing, so do I. When my loved one is afflicted or addicted or lame, I am deeply affected as well. The truth is that the healing of one person always affects the many around them and beyond. The benefit of any healing benefits us all.
One of the most prominent aspects of the life of Jesus, this person I have chosen to follow, is that everything he did and said was for the benefit, restoration, and salvation of others—the whole of humanity. Absolutely everyone is included. When I apply this vision to my life as a disciple, the fruit it bears also impacts all of humanity. As part of humanity, my actions—good and bad—will always impact all of humanity in some way. How can I ever wrap my mind around this? In truth, each one of us in connected to every other person. Looking at the “big picture” every one of my actions will ripple forth to promote or resist love in the world.
During this year of “Being the Body of Christ” it seems ever more appropriate to accompany one another, reach out to one another, encourage each other on the way to Jesus. We often do not know in what manner another, or even ourselves, need healing, only that there is suffering. It is hard to ask for help because that means relinquishing control in some measure. So whether it is ourselves or our loved one or even a stranger whose path we may cross, let us bring each other and allow ourselves to be brought to Jesus.
Most Holy One, My Father,
Open my eyes to the opportunity this day
to bring another in need of healing to Jesus.
And when I am in need of the healing of your Son,
help me to graciously accept help from another as well.
With the intercession of Mary,
in Jesus’ name
Amen.
-Gail Lyman